Dear brethren,

These fifty days after the Lord’s resurrection are filled with spiritual joy, where we enchant the joyful hymns of resurrection as we commemorate His resurrection and the several appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples. This is followed by the Apostle’s fast which we dedicate for praying and asking for the salvation of the whole world. Our fathers the apostles loved all the world and preached everywhere in the name of Jesus Christ. If we have this same love, let us also fast and pray to the Lord and ask for the salvation of all, Christians and non-Christians. A real Christian does not provide love to only his friends and relatives, but loves all and want the salvation of every one even those who do not know the Lord.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16: 15). Could the apostles preach to people without feeling love towards them? Certainly they knew that people might persecute them as the Lord warned them“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16: 2), but they still went and evangelized to them. We want our hearts to accommodate every person even those who do not love us, and seek their salvation.

We would like to remind you of the following events and feasts:

v  Sunday June 1^st: the feast Of Jesus Christ’s entry to Egypt.

v  Wednesday June 4^th: holy mass with H.G. Bishop Tadros of Port Said from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

v  Thursday June 5^th: holy mass for the feast of Ascension from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

v  Sunday June 15^th: holy Pantecost feast: mass with Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty.

v  Monday June 16th: the start of the apostles’ fast, and the feast of the relocation of the relics of St. Mercurius to Cairo with mass from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

v  Thursday June 19th: the commemoration of Archangel Michael, with mass from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Asking you to keep the church, its priest, servants and all services, in your prayers. May the blessing of Saint Mary, Saint Philopateer Mercurius, and these Holy days be with us all.

Fr. Youssef Halim

Belleville, May 28, 2008

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